Twin Peaks Middle School
Weekly RAM Newsletter
From the desk of Principal Mills
Sunday, December 10th, 2023
Happy Sunday Ram Families!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying your weekend, as the holiday season arrives in sunny San Diego! With the beginning of Hanukkah this past Thursday night, I'd like to wish all of our Twin Peaks families a Hanukkah filled with the light of hope, the warmth of togetherness, and the joy of cherished moments shared with loved ones. We have two more weeks of instruction remaining before our Winter Break begins with a minimum day on Friday, December 22nd. Please remember that students will be released at 12:35pm, and our afternoon ASES program will not be open on Friday, December 22nd.
We always see an increase in student absences due to family trips and events during the holiday season. If you are planning for your student to take additional days off from school this holiday season, please consider placing your student on an OCIS (Off Campus Independent Study) Contract. If students are going to be absent for more than 3 days, this is a great way for them to stay connected and up to speed with their classwork while they are gone. Please see the Missing More Than 3 Days of School? section below for more details on how to put an OCIS contract in place.
You have one more week to provide us with feedback about our new 8 period schedule - the survey window will close this Friday, December 15th! If you have not done so yet, please complete the appropriate survey linked below: (most students have had a chance to complete this survey in their Homeroom class!)
- Parent survey: CLICK HERE
- Student Survey: CLICK HERE
**Respondents will need to provide an email address to take the survey.
The TPMS Holiday Concert Season started this past Thursday evening with the TPMS Choir Holiday Concert in the TPMS Theater. I was blown away with the level of talent and spirit within this group of about 35 students... they sang a handful of holiday classics, and even featured an ensemble piece from 8 of our students that was AMAZING! TPMS students played piano and clarinet on a few of the numbers, and the students even incorporated some dancing, candles, and "jazz hands" into their routine. Like many of the students performing, I had a huge grin on my face for the entire 30 minutes! I recorded a few videos of their songs and posted them to my instagram account @principalmills_twinpeaks; if you have a moment, please check out our amazing students!
HUGE KUDOS to Mrs. Denise Gonda, a PTSA parent volunteer and amazing substitute teacher, who has been leading our choir students this school year with practices before school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you get a chance, please join us this week for our TPMS/PHS Holiday Concert with the Choir and Band at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, December 12th at 7:30pm.
We have our Winter Dance this Friday, December 15th from 5:30-8:00pm in the main quad. This is an outdoor dance, so please make sure your student is dressed for the weather - right now, it looks like it will be mild and in the high 50s / low 60s on Friday night. Tickets are on sale at lunch in the quad through this Thursday for $10 each; students will need a signed permission slip to purchase a ticket. Thursday is the last day to purchase a dance ticket and there are no ticket sales at the door. Thank you in advance to all of our parent volunteers who have signed up to help chaperone the dance, and to all of our Ram families who have donated items for the dance - we appreciate all of your support!
Finally this week, our Lost & Found is full! Students - please stop by the Lost & Found between now and December 22nd to reclaim your lost items! We have many unclaimed water bottles, sweat shirts, jackets, lunch bags and boxes, and even pairs of shoes! Items not claimed by Friday, December 22nd will be donated.
In Partnership,
Steve Mills
Proud Principal
Twin Peaks Middle School
1(858)748-5131 x2806
Instagram: @principalmills_twinpeaks
UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPMS NEWS AND EVENTS - Click here for Calendar
December 12th: TPMS Foundation, @Hamburger Factory, 6pm
December 12th: PHS/TPMS Holiday Concert, @PCPA, 7:30pm
December 13th: Late Start, 9:50am first class
December 14th: PUSD Board Meeting, Community Room, 6:00pm
December 14th: PTSA Meeting, @CCRB, 6:15pm
December 15th: Winter Wonderland Dance, 5:30-8pm
December 18th: Jazz Band Concert, @PHS, 6pm
December 19th: 7/8 Orchestra Concert, @PHS, 6pm
December 20th: Late Start, 9:50am first class
December 20th: 6th Grade Band/Orchestra Concert, @MPR, 6pm
December 21st: 7/8 Grade Winter Concert, @PHS, 6pm
December 22nd: Minimum Day Schedule, 12:35pm release
December 25th - January 5th: Winter Break
TPMS Choir Holiday Concert ROCKS the TPMS Theater!
Winter Wonderland Dance
The TPMS Winter Dance is coming up on December 15th from 5:30-8:00 PM in the TPMS Quad!! We are excited to announce that this year’s theme will be…. Winter Wonderland! All students must have a signed permission slip in order to purchase a ticket (available in room 911). Get your tickets fast, in the quad at lunch for $10.00 each starting on Friday, December 1st! The last day to purchase tickets to the dance will be Thursday, December 14th. We hope to see you there!
Join the TPMS Competitive Reading Team!
Calling all Readers and Jeopardy fans!! Come and check out the funnest club on campus!! There will be a Reading Competition informational meeting on Monday, 12/18 after school in Room 207 for all students who are interested in joining this year's team. Please see the flyer above for more specific information - we can't wait to see you at our meeting on the 18th!
Our Lost & Found is FULL!!
Students! Please stop by the Lost & Found between now and December 22nd to reclaim your lost items! We have many unclaimed water bottles, sweat shirts, jackets, lunch bags and boxes, and even pairs of shoes! Items not claimed by Friday, December 22nd will be donated.
TPMS Spelling Bee is January 24th!
The TPMS Spelling Bee is coming in January, 2024!! All students are encouraged to participate in this annual event where we crown one school-wide champion to advance on the represent us at the San Diego County Spelling Bee in March. This year's TPMS Spelling Bee is open to all students in grades 6-8 and will be held on Wednesday, January 24th starting at 4pm in the TPMS Theater. Students will need to complete the signup form LINKED HERE in order to participate. This event is limited to current Twin Peaks MS students in grades 6-8. Please email Principal Mills at stmills@powayusd.com with any questions.
Please Get to School On-Time!
Parents - please make every effort to have your student here before classes begin each day at 8:30am, or before 9:50am on Wednesdays. We are actually experiencing a larger percentage of students late to school on Wednesdays when we have late start than on our regular start days. Please try and drop your student off at school by 8:15am or regular days and by 9:30am on late-start Wednesdays so that they have time to get to their first block class on time; we open the school gates 30 minutes before classes actually start, and our Food Services provide a free breakfast for students during this time or during the morning break after first block.
Missing More Than 3 Days of School?
With the holidays coming up many families will be taking extended vacations. We offer an Off Campus Independent Study (OCIS) contract. To set up an OCIS contract please contact Sarah Pierce in attendance at spierce@powayusd.com with the dates of your trip ASAP. If you will be away from the internet, please let her know - this is very important for us to know so teachers can provide accurate work to be completed during the absence. We need AT LEAST one week to set up the contract.
OCIS Contract Requirements:
1. minimum one full week notice; two weeks preferred
2. specific start/end date of trip/vacation
3. will your student have internet access?
4. hard copy signature of both parent and student for contract
Attendance Corner
Is your Student leaving early? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730 that morning. Leave a message and a note gets sent to the student that block. Bring in your ID, sign the student out, and away you go!
Is your Student running late? Absent? Call the Attendance Hotline (858) 668-2730
Leave a message with the requested information and the Tardy or Absence will be excused.
Did your student go to the Doctor/Dentist/Orthodontist/Dermatologist/Optometrist?
It is beneficial to his/her attendance record to bring an official medical note to the Attendance Desk. Any absence excused by a medical note does not count toward your student’s absence total.
PUSD Parent Ambassadors Program
Parent Ambassadors are parent volunteers who have their own child(ren) accessing special education services through PUSD. They serve as mentors to guide and support parents of children with IEPs or those exploring special education options. Drawing from their own experiences, they offer invaluable insights and advice to encourage collaboration among parents and school staff on behalf of students.
To reach out to a Parent Ambassador, please submit a request through get connected form. To apply to become a Parent Ambassador, please complete this application form.
Join #TEAMPUSD!
Food & Nutrition Update
All children in PUSD are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals regardless of income for the 2023-2024 school year. Please see the PUSD Food and Nutrition Website for more information. Breakfast is served 30 minutes before school starts daily, if your student can not make it before school, they can receive a free breakfast at morning break! CLICK HERE to see weekly school food menus
*PUSD Food and Nutrition Department is cashless. Please click on the following link to learn more about the cashless system Cashless System
More Than A Meal: This years Free and Reduced Lunch Application is now available! Although school meals are now free to all students, the application for free and reduced-price meals is still very important. School funding depends in part on the number of students at our school who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. With all students now eating for free, fewer families are completing the application and our school is at risk of losing much-needed educational funds. Plus, students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for discounts on bus transportation, before and after school care, and home internet!
Income qualifications change annually, so a new application is needed every school year. For school year 2023-2024, children from a family of four are eligible if the total gross (pre-tax) household income is less than $4,625 per month, or less than $55,500 per year. Household income information is confidential and applying online is quick and easy.
Apply online at MySchoolApps.com, or pick up a paper application in the school office. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your students counselor if you have any questions or concerns about completing the application. MORE THAN A MEAL (formerly called FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION) can help you out in many ways. Please click on this link More Than a Meal to complete the online application. Listed below are a few ways this program can help:
- Discounts for passes on public transportation
- Discounts on home internet costs
- Discounts on fees for SAT, ACT, AP tests
- Discounts on application fees associated with colleges and universities
- Our district can receive increased funding to support students.
Main Office Drop-Offs
As a general rule, we do not accept drop-off items for students once they arrive at school. While we do make exceptions for medical and emergency situations, our TPMS Student Planner states: "In an effort to limit classroom interruptions as well as encourage students to become more independent and self-sufficient, Twin Peaks does not allow delivery of forgotten lunches, PE clothes, homework, non-emergency messages, or other items during the school day."
Delivery food and Door Dash-like companies may not deliver to students at school; additionally, cell phones will not be held for students at the front desk for them to pick up. Breakfast and lunch items are provided to all students, free of charge, so there should not be any reason to drop off a lunch for your student - they will be able to get food at school. If your student has food allergies that require special lunches, the Student Planner states you "must provide a Medical Statement (SNP-925) that explains the need. The medical statement must be signed by a physician and include recommended alternate foods."
TPMS Yearbook Info
Yearbooks are available for $55. Reserve yours now!
Pay by card: Go to www.jostens.com or use the QR code above.
Pay by cash/check: Download the typable order form from our webpage
http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/ or pick up a form in the office. Return the form and cash or check to the school office.
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
Calling all families of 8th graders here at Twin Peaks! 8th Grade Recognition Ads are open and ready for purchase. Go to www.jostens.com and click on Recognition Ads to start the process of celebrating your 8th grader in this year’s yearbook!
Deadline is February 1st so don’t delay! Don't forget to order your yearbook, too!
Want more information about Yearbooks? Go to http://tpmsyearbook.weebly.com/
TPMS Foundation 23-24
Twin Peaks Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing educational excellence for ALL students at Twin Peaks Middle School. Their purpose is to bridge the widening gap between the amount of money actually provided by the State of California and the Poway Unified School District and the amount necessary to fund technology upgrades, educational programs and resources necessary to support the school. The Foundation typically meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6pm in the TPMS Library. Here are their monthly meetings dates for the 2023-24 school year:
December 12th @ The Hamburger Factory
January 16th
February 13th
March 12th
April 16th
May 21st
Please visit the TPMS Foundation Web Page by CLICKING HERE!
PTSA Meeting Dates 23-24
The Twin Peaks Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is a membership-based, volunteer organization dedicated to making each school year a rewarding and enriching experience for all students. As a volunteer organization, PTSA is integral to the success of many campus events. We fund, organize and provide volunteers for a variety of PTSA programs and important school activities which serve to enhance your student’s middle school experience
All Executive Board meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:15pm in the TPMS Library unless listed otherwise. Association Meetings will be held in September, February, and April. Board meetings are open to PTSA Board Members and Committee Chairs while Association Meetings are open for all members of the Twin Peaks Middle School PTSA:
December 14th
January 18th
February 15th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
March 14th
April 18th (Association Meeting @6:15pm; Board Meeting to follow)
May 23rd
To join the PTSA for the 2023-24 school year, please CLICK HERE!
Shop Amazon through TPMS Foundation
Twin Peaks Middle School
Nondiscrimination Philosophy and Policy Statement
The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is an equal opportunity employer/program and is committed to an active Nondiscrimination Program. PUSD prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For more information, please contact: Title IX/Equity Compliance Officer, James Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Personnel support Services, Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128, 1-858-521-2800, extension 2121, jjimenez@powayusd.com. For students, you may contact Title IX Coordinator/504 Coordinator Jamie Dayhoff, Director of Attendance and Discipline, Poway Unified School District, 1-858-521-2840, jdayhoff@powayusd.com.
Email: chamilton@powayusd.com
Website: http://tpms.powayusd.com/index.html
Phone: 858.748.5131
Twitter: @TwinPeaksRams